Best things to do in Metropolitan City of Bologna

“Piazza Maggiore is located at the very centre of Bologna and it's one of the most beautiful and lively squares in Italy. In the past, the square underwent many changes and was further enriched with important buildings: Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo dei Notai, Palazzo d'Accursio, Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo dei Bianchi. When there, do not miss to pay a visit to Fontana del Nettuno and Biblioteca Salaborsa as well! ”

“During the day, a cosmopolitan market where regional fragrances, flavors, and local people meet. When the market closes, it turns into a perfect place where to enjoy an aperitivo in one of the trendy bars and restaurants within the market and in front of it, in Piazza delle Erbe.”

“From the center of the city, reaches the Sanctuary of San Luca, a traditional destination for religious pilgrimages linked to the devotion of the image of the Blessed Virgin. The route offers the opportunity to learn about the Bolognese arcades, candidates for UNESCO World Heritage. The arcade that connects Porta Saragozza to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca is the longest in the world with its 3.5 km. Consisting of 666 arches, each marked by a progressive number: the first 306 connect Porta Saragozza to the Arco del Meloncello while the last 360 are those located in the hilly stretch from Meloncello to Colle della Guardia. The latter are interspersed with 15 chapels that illustrate the mystery of the rosary. It is possible to reach the Basilica on foot or by express train that leaves from Piazza Maggiore in Bologna.”

“It is the largest and certainly the most popular city park. It was designed by the Piedmontese Sambuy to provide Bologna with an ample green and public place as in other Italian and European cities. It was opened in 1879 with the name of “Passeggio Regina Margherita” ( as a tribute to the wife of King Umberto I).”

“The Mercato di Mezzo is one of the most representative historical places of the Bolognese food culture, a stone's throw from Piazza Maggiore: since the Middle Ages this has been the place of tastes and encounter, commerce, memory and gastronomic tradition of the city . Transformed, after the Unification of Italy, in the first covered market of the city, it was the object in 2014 of an important recovery and redevelopment project. The structure is divided into three floors, and is a space where to buy or consume food and wine products and excellent dishes. On the ground floor there are large and small tables in common use and food kiosks, placed in the side niches as in the nineteenth-century plan: meat, fish, salami, cheese, fruit, bread, pasta, ice cream and pastry, wines. On the first floor is the pizzeria and in the basement, with striking barrel vaults, a craft brewery, both with additional tables and chairs. On Via Clavature, next to the entrance to the Church of Santa Maria della Vita, it also offers pleasant tables and outdoor chairs. The Mercato di Mezzo is open seven days a week, from 8.30 until midnight, and often offers tasting appointments and meetings related to the culture of food.”

“The Torre degli Asinelli and the Garisenda are one of the biggest attractions of the Emilian capital, strategically placed at the entrance to the city from the ancient Via Emilia. Erected between 1109 and 1119, as a symbol of power and prestige of the aristocratic families whose name they bear, the towers are today the main destination for tourists visiting Bologna. The highest of the two is the Torre degli Asinelli (97.20 meters), consisting of an internal stairway of 498 steps: climbing up to the top you can admire the whole city from above, and some say that, in the days more clear, even the Alps and the Adriatic Sea can be seen. ”

“When construction of the massive church that dominates one side of Piazza Maggiorebegan in 1390, it was designed to be even bigger than St. Peter's in Rome, but never quite made it. In fact, it was never finished, and the facade remains incomplete. In the tiny museum at the back of the church, you can see the designs that were submitted for the facade, including those by the great architect Andrea Palladio. The interior, which was finished, is often referred to as the epitome of Gothic architecture in Italy, and each of the side chapels seems like a small church. Look for the strange line cutting across the floor of the nave; it is a meridian line.”

“Via Indipendenza is the main street of Bologna. It starts from Piazza Maggiore and ends at the railway station. It has been completed in 1890 when the city became an important railway junction. Now via Indipendenza is the heart of the shopping area: under its porticoes, protecting pedestrians on both sides of the street, you’ll find many low-cost clothes shops, designer labels, small shops, fast food and sandwiches bar. Via Indipendenza is always very popular among Bologna people of all ages: we suggest to take a walk there!”

“Biblioteca Salaborsa is the central public library opened in 2001 and provides a rich and fascinating cultural space inside Palazzo d'Accursio, the ancient and historical seat of the city government. The archaeological excavations carried out recently to restore Salaborsa revealed traces of public and religious buildings. They are visible to the public through a walkway and testify to the fact that the place has always been the centre of public life in the city. There is the impressive wall perimeter of the Renaissance Terribilia tank, paved roads and foundations of the Roman basilica, the wall of the Medieval tower house and the star-shaped tub once at the centre of the garden. ”